By Heather Richards, E&E News
President-elect Donald Trump will get another try to unleash drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during his second term, but oil production won’t come easy.
The success of a potential drilling campaign may depend on whether North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) — Trump’s pick for Interior secretary — prioritizes Alaska oil and gas issues and whether his staff members are skilled at unraveling Biden administration rules crafted to hamper drilling in the Arctic.
ANWR, treasured for its wildness, is already facing the dramatic effects of a changing climate, including thawing permafrost —an underground layer of ice, dirt and organic matter that stays frozen all year. Alaska’s remote location also makes oil drilling more expensive and risky for companies, particularly in the sensitive wildlife habitat of the refuge. Still, the potential payoff remains enticing to drilling supporters.
“There are billions and billions of barrels of oil recoverable in ANWR. The main problem is the permitting and litigation risk,” said Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an independent economic development agency set up by the state’s government. “You just have to get the system in place that allows for reasonable permitting and production of the oil and gas.”
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